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	<title>JJ Flizanes- Fitness, Love &#38; Life &#187; 5 foods to ditch</title>
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	<link>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog</link>
	<description>Get the most out of your life!</description>
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		<title>11 Tips to Stay Trim During the Holidays</title>
		<link>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/11/11-tips-to-stay-trim-during-the-holidays/</link>
		<comments>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/11/11-tips-to-stay-trim-during-the-holidays/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:48:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JJ</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[5 foods to ditch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[7 secrets for weight loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creating healthier Thanksgiving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easy way to lose weight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fit 2 Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gluten free living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday eating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invisible fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jj flizanes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lifestyle changes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lose weight over Thanksgiving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[metabolism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[staying slim during the holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thanksgivin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thanksgiving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thanksgiving weight gain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weight loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/?p=890</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
**the 11th step is actually in the video above- and I guarantee that it will be your FAVORITE bit of advice from me on this subject!!  Click to watch it above now.***

 Family time does not have      to mean sit and eat.       Quality time together [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sNfYqoA36Bo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
**the 11th step is actually in the video above- and I guarantee that it will be your FAVORITE bit of advice from me on this subject!!  Click to watch it above now.***</p>
<ol>
<li> Family time does not have      to mean <em>sit and eat</em>.       Quality time together can be spent doing other activities.  Try to      clear the table while people are slowing down to take away temptations of      over eating.</li>
<li>Traditional meals probably      contain high calorie ingredients such as pasta, butter, oil, cheese and      sugar.  Be creative and consult some low fat cooking sources on      alternative ingredients that will cut several hundred calories per dish      using items like egg whites, applesauce, fruit paste, lighter versions      (not fat free) and etc.  No need to tell the family&#8211;they probably      won&#8217;t notice!</li>
<li>Add some new dishes to the      dinner table of salads, vegetable, fruits and broth-based soups.       These are generally healthier choices so you can fill up in these and eat      less &#8220;empty calorie&#8221; stuff.</li>
<li>Schedule in your exercise      in the mornings.  Ask a friend or family member to join, it will help      with accountability.</li>
<li>Learn to say &#8220;No Thank You&#8221;.       You do not have to try every dish prepared or eat all that you take.</li>
<li>While in preparation,      only sample the food that is necessary.  You could potentially      eat 500-800 calories in sampling before you sit down to eat.</li>
<li>Eat ONLY until you are      satisfied, NOT full.  If you sit at the dinner table for more      then 2 hours, you are probably going to eat more then you need to because      it&#8217;s there.</li>
<li>Keep a log of ALL of your      exercise and food.  The average amount of calories for an adult      between the ages of 30-55 who participates in moderate activity of 2-3      hours a week is 1800 (women)-2300 (men).  The average holiday meal      including drinks can average around 2800-3200.  Logging keeps you      aware of why the scale goes up and down.</li>
<li>Create a 15 min exercise      routine that you can do every during the busy times. Add things like      jumping jacks, jump rope, bridge, push ups, etc.  You want to have tools outside of the      gym!</li>
<li>Holidays are stressful      times and sometimes depressing for some.  Exercise boosts your body&#8217;s      production of serotonin, the body&#8217;s &#8220;happy drug&#8221;.   Don&#8217;t      let stress win!  If you need some support <span style="text-decoration: underline;">hire a trainer or a coach</span>.  You&#8217;ll be glad you had      the discipline and you will be ahead of the game for the New Year!</li>
</ol>
<ol></ol>
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		<item>
		<title>Step 1 of Fit 2 Love: Clean the Slate</title>
		<link>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/10/step-1-of-fit-2-love-clean-the-slate/</link>
		<comments>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/10/step-1-of-fit-2-love-clean-the-slate/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:53:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JJ</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[5 foods to ditch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[6 Week Beach Body Program]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[7 secrets for weight loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clean the slate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[detoxing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[doing a cleanse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easy way to lose weight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fit 2 Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invisible fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jj flizanes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lifestyle changes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[loving yourself]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weight loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/?p=851</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
**this is an except from my book Fit 2 Love-click here to order a copy today and get the entire book in hard copy or Kindle**


“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Maria Robinson
You’re tired all the time, you want to lose a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8J6t8vlPkYM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><em>**this is an except from my book Fit 2 Love-<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fit-Love-Physically-Emotionally-Spiritually/dp/0982746563/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1293670000&amp;sr=8-1">click here to order a copy </a>today and get the entire book in hard copy or Kindle**</em></p>
<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p align="center">“<em>Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.</em>” <strong>Maria Robinson</strong></p>
<p>You’re tired all the time, you want to lose a few pounds quickly, and are ready for change. Enough is enough. Your body blueprint is not sending the messages you want it to, and you are ready to start over. Time to clean the slate!</p>
<p>We will be attending to four areas of your life to create a fresh start: <strong>your body, physical environment, emotional baggage, and current relationships</strong>.</p>
<p>Your Physical Body</p>
<p>When dealing with only the body, the first thing I recommend is a detoxification. At a physical level, proper detoxification strengthens our body’s tissues and enhances the function of its systems. This can result in fast weight loss, better sleep, improved mood and focus, as well as a decrease in appetite. Detoxification is a process of removing chemicals and toxic substances from your diet, while entering into a cleansing period by eating foods that help the body eliminate built-up toxins. Not only will you be cleansing your body, you will also have the opportunity to create a new relationship with food.</p>
<p>Hunger is of the mind, while appetite is of the body. During a detox, you have the opportunity to become aware of the difference between hunger and appetite. Keeping a journal throughout a detox can help you become mindful at a conscious and<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span>subconscious level of how, when, what, and why you eat. With mindfulness, you get to take back control over your relationship with food.</p>
<p>All cleanses are not created equal, and some are not safe. While you may lose weight quickly, some encourage long durations without eating, which stresses the body, causing adrenal fatigue. Adrenal fatigue is a condition that prevents your body from recovery because your <em>fight or flight</em> response has been triggered too often for too long. Having adrenal fatigue causes weight loss resistance, which means you will have a hard time losing weight in the long run. To find out more about adrenal fatigue or to test to see if you may be affected by it, consult your local doctor that specializes in anti-aging medicine and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.</p>
<p>At least three new chemicals are introduced into the planet each day, so I recommend doing a cleanse at least twice a year. In fact, we enter the world with over 200 chemicals in our body when we are born. The Environmental Working Group found that samples of blood taken from the umbilical cord of newborns contain an average of 200 chemicals that can cause cancer, brain damage, birth defects, and other serious illnesses. Our bodies have a natural detoxification system, but it is still necessary to assist our liver, colon, kidneys, and tissues at least twice a year so that our digestive system can work more effectively to eradicate these toxins from our bodies. I would recommend trying a detox on your own with the guidelines below or contacting me at our <a href="http://6weekbeachbodyinabox.com">6 Week Beach Body Program</a> to find out when we host the next virtual detox group.</p>
<p>What to Avoid During a Detox</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Dairy: </strong>Dairy is one of the top allergies that we have, and a lot of us don’t even know that we’re sensitive or allergic to dairy. Dairy also causes inflammation.</li>
<li><strong>Caffeine: </strong>Green tea is acceptable because there’s half the amount of caffeine in green tea that there is in coffee.</li>
<li><strong>Alcohol:</strong> Alcohol is toxic to the liver and is also a diuretic, like caffeine. It takes water out of your system. Having less water is going to make it harder for your body to perform all of its functions because your body does everything in water. It loses weight in water. It fights disease in water.</li>
<li><strong>Gluten:</strong> Wheat is the second biggest allergy foods out of the top five. Gluten is anything made from wheat, barley, and rye. You can find it in many foods as an additive or preservative, so be sure to read labels. You can also find a list of foods containing gluten, as well as gluten-free grains in the <em>30 Day JUMP Start</em> program that you can download for free at <span style="text-decoration: underline;">invisiblefitness.com</span>.</li>
<li><strong>Fast food:</strong> Stay away from fast food, even if it’s the vegetables in the fast food places. If it comes from the garden and onto your plate, that’s great. If it has to sit anywhere and goes through any kind of processes and be around other chemicals, we want to stay away from it.</li>
<li><strong>Fried foods and packaged foods</strong>: They have fillers and artificial preservatives that are going to make them last longer.</li>
<li><strong>Meat</strong>: Meat can be hard on the body to digest, and we want to give your digestive system a break.</li>
<li><strong>Salt:</strong> That doesn’t mean stay away from things that have salt in them naturally, like celery. Celery can actually help lower blood pressure. Just don’t add salt to your food.</li>
<li><strong>Sugar:</strong> Sugar is another very high inflammatory agent. It’s like cocaine for your body—addictive and not good for you.</li>
</ol>
<p>10.  <strong> Artificial sweeteners, diet drinks, and diet food</strong>: These are toxic and made with chemicals.</p>
<p>What to Eat During a Detox</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Protein:</strong> Your protein choices are going to be fish, eggs, tofu, tempeh, edamame, or a protein powder made from peas, hemp, rice, or egg whites.</li>
<li><strong>Vegetables:</strong> Have at least 3 cups, everyday, of different colored vegetables.</li>
<li><strong>Fruit:</strong> Enjoy at least 3 servings of fruit a day.</li>
<li><strong>Grain:</strong> Brown rice, white rice, quinoa, millet, amaranth, and oat.</li>
<li><strong>Nuts:</strong> Almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chestnuts, cashews, and peanuts.</li>
<li><strong>Drinks</strong>: Water, green tea, herbal teas that are non-caffeinated, fresh-squeezed veggie or fruit juice, and mineral water.</li>
<li><strong>Oils and dressings:</strong> Vinegar, olive, grape seed, coconut, and walnut oils. Apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and a touch of mustard make a tasty homemade dressing.</li>
<li><strong>Snacks:</strong> Hummus, olives, celery, carrots, dried apricots, and prunes. For example, celery with hummus or almond butter. You can mix and match anything above for a snack, as well from the protein, fruit, or veggie categories.</li>
<li><strong>Supplements</strong>: Fiber, make sure to get at least 35-40 grams a day through your food or a supplement, Krill oil or Omega 3, and a probiotic.</li>
</ol>
<p>Additional tips to help you with a detox would be to buy organic fruits and veggies locally, if possible. Make sure to sweat every day for at least ten minutes, sleep at least seven to eight hours every night, and practice stress management daily through journaling and meditation.</p>
<p>**For the more free info on Fit 2 Love or to buy the book, please visit <a href="http://fit2love.info">www.fit2love.info</a>**</p>
<p><em><strong>** there are also many ways/methods to do a detox- this is the one we use the most but we always recommend researching the safety and effectiveness of a cleanse you choose.**</strong></em></p>
<hr size="1" />
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		<title>Making easy, homemade tomato sauce</title>
		<link>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/08/making-easy-homemade-tomato-sauce/</link>
		<comments>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/08/making-easy-homemade-tomato-sauce/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:48:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JJ</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[5 foods to ditch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[6 Week Beach Body Program]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[7 secrets for weight loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[90 day health and body makeover]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easy way to lose weight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gluten free living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[healthy cooking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[homemade tomato sauce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invisible fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jj flizanes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Knack Absolute Abs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lifestyle changes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[metabolism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[motivation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nutrition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[quick and easy tomato sauce]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/?p=794</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is the best homemade tomato sauce I have made yet! As we at the Flizanes-Albers house prepare for many roma tomatoes to come, I have been gifted beautiful tomatoes from clients of mine a few times.  The first time I made sauce with these local, home grown beauties, I was shocked at the taste.
There [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is the best homemade tomato sauce I have made yet! As we at the Flizanes-Albers house prepare for many roma tomatoes to come, I have been gifted beautiful tomatoes from clients of mine a few times.  The first time I made sauce with these local, home grown beauties, I was shocked at the taste.</p>
<p>There are times when I want to be Picasso in the kitchen, so I use many ingredients and enhancements to create a fiesta of flavors in my sauces.  When I was given these tomatoes, I found that I didn’t have  a lot of time so I decided to do this as quickly and simply as possible.  Wow!  I was in shock and amazement at the taste -I had to do it again and again and share the recipe with you.</p>
<p>Start by usin<a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-002.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-797" title="steps of making tomato sauce 002" src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-002-300x225.jpg" alt="steps of making tomato sauce 002" width="213" height="161" /></a>g a large deep pot (one big enough for the amount of tomatoes you have.  I used a small one the first time and this last batch was bigger)</p>
<p>The tomatoes were from my client&#8217;s garden but the onions were from our garden. I turn the heat on low, add some olive oil and lightly saute the onions first</p>
<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-003.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-799" title="steps of making tomato sauce 003" src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-003-300x225.jpg" alt="steps of making tomato sauce 003" width="216" height="162" /></a></p>
<p>Wash and cut up tomatoes and put them in the pot- saute in olive oil for less than 2 minutes.</p>
<p>You only saute the onions first to get that caramalized flavor- they will be cooked along side the tomatoes to make them softer.</p>
<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-004.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-800" title="steps of making tomato sauce 004" src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-004-300x225.jpg" alt="steps of making tomato sauce 004" width="192" height="144" /></a>Do not add anything else- no water or tomato paste necessary!  I used to use a little of both and since eliminating it all together, it makes this sauce so much faster and better!</p>
<p>What you can add is crushed garlic (or regular cloves of garlic), basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and anything else you may want in your tomato sauce.</p>
<p>I used fresh basil from our garden plus one or two frozen basil cubes from Trader Joe&#8217;s because I wanted more basil than we had!   I also used 1-2 heaping tablespoons of crushed garlic (<em> I love garlic</em>) so if you only like it, I&#8217;d use less.</p>
<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-005.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-801" title="steps of making tomato sauce 005" src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-005-300x225.jpg" alt="steps of making tomato sauce 005" width="192" height="144" /></a></p>
<p>Cook this over low to medium heat for at least 20 minutes.  Because it splatters, I put the lid on.  This will keep the moisture locked in so when you want to thicken it after blending, cook with the top off.</p>
<p>I added pink sea salt and fresh ground pepper before I starting cooking but save the bulk of the salt and pepper for after it&#8217;s all blended so I can really only salt to taste.</p>
<p>Years ago,  I would have used a blender because that&#8217;s all I had.  Until recently my mother gave me a Cuisinart Smart Stick- I love this thing.  However, I did not like using it with mashed potatoes- it made the texture weird to me. ( prefer a hand mixer for mashed potatoes)</p>
<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-008.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-802" title="steps of making tomato sauce 008" src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-008-300x225.jpg" alt="steps of making tomato sauce 008" width="210" height="158" /></a> After the tomatoes cook, I turned the heat off.  This little gadget can be put right in the bowl or pot that you are using to make less mess and easier cooking- love it!</p>
<p>After blending it, I took the stick out and tasted it to see if I needed more salt and pepper. Once spiced the way I like, I turned the heat back on low, put the lid on half way, leaving it open to allow the moisture to evaporate, and cooked it for another 20 minutes or so until it was a little thicker.</p>
<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-011.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-803" title="steps of making tomato sauce 011" src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/steps-of-making-tomato-sauce-011-300x225.jpg" alt="steps of making tomato sauce 011" width="210" height="158" /></a> Here is my finished product.  I LOVE homemade sauce.  It&#8217;s extremely easy and inexpensive.  Plus it&#8217;s healthier and more vibrant because we use organic gardening and this produce came right off the tree and from the ground and into my kitchen.</p>
<p>I will be bummed when tomato season ends here.  I do put the sauce in jars but I have not yet taken on &#8220;canning&#8221; yet so this sauce does have a shelf life in the refrigerator.</p>
<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/food-2011-009.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-804" title="food 2011 009" src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/food-2011-009-300x225.jpg" alt="food 2011 009" width="210" height="158" /></a> So start to finish, it take less than 1 hour but you can put a timer on for the 40 minutes it cooks (before and after blending) and do other things.  Just make sure to put on a timer that has a beeper so when you walk away, it WILL remind you with sound.</p>
<p>And I wouldn&#8217;t recommend you go too far&#8230;wouldn&#8217;t want you to burn the house down because I told you to multi-task!</p>
<p>Happy sauce making!</p>
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		<title>Quick Tip #1 from Absolute Ab Book</title>
		<link>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/08/quick-tip-1-from-absolute-ab-book/</link>
		<comments>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/08/quick-tip-1-from-absolute-ab-book/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:06:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JJ</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[5 foods to ditch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[6 Week Beach Body Program]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[belly fat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dairy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fit 2 Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flat midsection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[food sensitiviities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gluten]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inflammation around your waist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invisible fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jj flizanes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[JJ's Ab Book]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Knack Absolute Abs]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[metabolism]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[sugar]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/?p=792</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I have been invited to start a series of weekly video blogs and tips-which is great since I always want to do video for you but find myself making excuses these days why it can wait&#8230;&#8230;
I have a feeling some of you can relate that to your diet and exercise program maybe??
Well none the less, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have been invited to start a series of weekly video blogs and tips-which is great since I always want to do video for you but find myself making excuses these days why it can wait&#8230;&#8230;</p>
<p>I have a feeling some of you can relate that to your diet and exercise program maybe??</p>
<p>Well none the less, I am now involved in a group where I am held accountable for posting new videos every week.   Today&#8217;s video is short since it was not really planned in my schedule but my deadline was quickly approaching.</p>
<p>Feel free to post questions or topics you&#8217;d like to see more information about. I plan to go through both of my books and pick out some of the information I give there in video form.</p>
<p>If you need some accountability on getting in quality exercise, attention to your daily diet, or how to shift your mindset so making healthy choices is EASY&#8230;. get in touch with me.   800 571 5722/  invisiblefitness.com</p>
<p><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bfT5jwSA0PQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Benefits and Dangers of a Raw Food Diet</title>
		<link>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/08/benefits-and-dangers-of-a-raw-food-diet/</link>
		<comments>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/08/benefits-and-dangers-of-a-raw-food-diet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:57:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JJ</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/?p=783</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As I prepared 2 weeks ago for my raw food experiment this past week, I wanted to share the reasons why I am doing this now and the reasons why I have not done it in the past.
Benefits:

Getting more fruits and veggies into the diet
Eating more vibrationally alive foods
Getting more enzymes
Increasing fiber
Increasing antioxidants
Changing your relationship [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As I prepared 2 weeks ago for my raw food experiment this past week, I wanted to share the reasons why I am doing this now and the reasons why I have not done it in the past.</p>
<p>Benefits:</p>
<ul>
<li>Getting more fruits and veggies into the diet</li>
<li>Eating more vibrationally alive foods</li>
<li>Getting more enzymes</li>
<li>Increasing fiber</li>
<li>Increasing antioxidants</li>
<li>Changing your relationship with food and self care</li>
<li>Detoxifying</li>
</ul>
<p>Dangers:</p>
<ul>
<li>Lack of protein</li>
<li>The “culture”  will talk more about that later</li>
<li>Harder for the body to break down if you lack the enzymes or have problems with digestion</li>
<li>Can be time consuming for pre planning and preparation (but not always)</li>
<li>Lack of organically grown produce based on climate – increase of pesticides</li>
<li>Lack of sufficient B vitamins like B12 which is needed to convert carbohydrates into glucose in the body, thus leading to energy production and a decrease in fatigue and lethargy in the body. It also helps in healthy regulation of the nervous system, reducing depression, stress, and brain shrinkage. B12 helps maintain a healthy digestive system and protects against heart disease by curbing and improving unhealthy cholesterol levels, protecting against stroke, and high blood pressure. It is essential for healthy skin, hair, and nails. It helps in cell reproduction and constant renewal of the skin. Vitamin B 12 also helps protect against cancers including breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer.</li>
<li>Chinese medicine does not support raw food when you are trying to get pregnant or deal with issues of low or stagnate &#8220;qi&#8221; (energy) in the lower region of the core. Raw food is harder for the body to break down and can take energy away from healing or conceiving.</li>
</ul>
<p>In preparation for my week of raw food, I wanted to explore and share all the emotions and thoughts about a raw food diet.</p>
<p>First off, I will tell you that I have eaten many raw meals before, had countless vegetarian and vegan meals and even exclusively ate this way for short periods of time in my life for various reasons.</p>
<p>In the Eastern Orthodox Church, where I was raised, Lent was a time where we did not eat meat at all for 40 or 50 days (the 2 prep weeks before Lent).  During college, I would challenge myself to “give up” more each year because I was successful in my practice the year before.</p>
<p>After college, I even got so disciplined that I gave up all meat and fish (as well as sugar and dairy) and ate mostly a vegan diet for 50 days- I got creative and it taught me a lot about my relationship with food.  It was a good way to practice detaching from any emotional triggers with food.  I am thankful that this was the religion I was born into because the practices taught me a lot growing up. Doing any kind of food experiment is easy for me because I have practiced it all my life.</p>
<p><strong>How this experiment got started:</strong></p>
<p>My friend and webmaster complained recently of some digestive issues and I suggested he “go raw” for a week and that I would be happy to do it with him.  Since I am in a raw movie that comes out very soon, I thought I should live the lifestyle fully so I could talk about my experience.</p>
<p>To get me started, I ordered Karen Knowler’s <em>Raw Food Made Simple </em>book which came with a guide to “go raw” for a day and included a few easy recipes.</p>
<p>Karen has a simple, easy going approach to raw food that I appreciate.  She acknowledges that it can turn people off so she takes the stance for people to just try it and to do it as much as you are comfortable with- thanks Karen.  I got very excited about the recipes that Karen shares.</p>
<p>Before her book arrived, I was gifted a different book (one that I will not publically bash) but let’s just say the person who wrote it is an extremist.  His approach, while seemingly easy going by his writing, has condescending undertones the entire way through.  The statements made basically read <em>“if you are not eating raw, you are an idiot.”</em></p>
<p>As you can imagine this <strong>PISSED ME OFF</strong>.  I got very discouraged before starting this experiment because it’s people like this that I, and a lot of “meat eaters”, reject for their extreme approach. Trying to calm my emotions, I thought of some of the most respected PhD’s and RD’s that I know like Jeanne Peters RD and Dr. Jonny Bowden- neither of them are raw and both eat meat.</p>
<p>In fact, Dr Jonny did a blog post last year about why he would never become a vegetarian. http://jonnybowdenblog.com/why-i-am-not-a-vegetarian/</p>
<p>I even called Jeanne Peters after getting emotionally triggered by this “book that will remain nameless” to ask her about the benefits and dangers of going raw.  I don’t think I know anyone, I mean ANYONE, more connected to the earth, the soil, food, sun, spirit and science like Jeanne is.  I trust that if this <em>sacred earth mama</em> is not a raw food-ist, then there is surely a scientific AND spiritual reason for it.</p>
<p>Within 48 hours and a few phone calls, I recovered from my slap in the face that &#8220;we who cook our food are stupid comments&#8221; and began to plan the menu and grocery list.  Going raw for a week is definitely something that requires some time and preparation to get started.</p>
<p>When I was checking out at Trader Joe&#8217;s, the guy helping me said &#8220;that is the healthiest cart I have seen!&#8221;</p>
<p>Here is what I left with!</p>
<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/food-pics-010.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-784" title="food pics 010" src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/food-pics-010-300x225.jpg" alt="food pics 010" width="300" height="225" /> </a></p>
<p>And this is what I prepped before my &#8220;students&#8221; arrived to prepare ourselves for a week of raw food.  I decided the day before to sprout some beans to have on hand to make dips and hummus.</p>
<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/food-pics-009.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-786" title="food pics 009" src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/food-pics-009-300x225.jpg" alt="food pics 009" width="300" height="225" /></a></p>
<p>Stay tuned for the report!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Fit 2 Love Aud Entry 15: Wendy&#8217;s-GROSS!</title>
		<link>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/07/fit-2-love-aud-entry-15-wendys-gross/</link>
		<comments>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/07/fit-2-love-aud-entry-15-wendys-gross/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:24:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Fit 2 Love Aud</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/?p=777</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What a difference no Gluten makes!
For whatever reason last night was a tough night. I was feeling lonely, sad and very very tired. I worked a 13 hour day and stopped at Wendy’s on the way home. I was starving and exhausted which did NOT help in my judgment of food choice.  I will say [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What a difference no Gluten makes!</p>
<p>For whatever reason last night was a tough night. I was feeling lonely, sad and very very tired. I worked a 13 hour day and stopped at Wendy’s on the way home. I was starving and exhausted which did NOT help in my judgment of food choice.  I will say that there was one good thing which was I ordered a Jr. sized meal and a small rather than the Super Sized adult meal plus the chicken nuggets and the apple pie…ok PIES….as I did in the past.  I felt satisfied after eating it and slept like a rock.</p>
<p>And then…</p>
<p>I could hardly wake up this morning.  It literally took me about 5 minutes just to get my eyes open. My face and eyes were swollen and my body felt like it had a MAC TRUCK sitting on it. I felt heavy, puffy, tired and did I mention HEAVY? It was different than feeling FAT it was a heaviness that made each movement a challenge for me.</p>
<p>YUCK! I LEARNED MY LESSON!</p>
<p>So, this morning the protein bars and apples made it into my purse and will live there indefinitely so that I do not find myself without food easily accessible when I’m tired and exhausted because I know that I will be in that position again. It’s unavoidable with my current lifestyle. So, I need to plan and make changes accordingly.</p>
<p>Feeling very lonely lately and feeling as if my life is passing me by. Sometimes when I let my thoughts get the best of me I start to think that 39 is really old and I wonder if I’ve missed out on a lot of things by letting my weight and my dependence on food stop me from really living how I want to live. Would I have the man and family by now? Would I be in a different job or NO job and be working for myself as I have always dreamed? Would I be more successful on all levels? Would I own a home by now? Would I be more naturally active by now?  Would I be out of debt by now? Would I have written that book I&#8217;ve always wanted to write by now? Would I be on my way to being the skinny white Oprah by now?  OY! OY! OY!</p>
<p>Then, I have a choice. I can go deeper down that path and get depressed and go visit Wendy again and again and again or I can choose a new thought and look forward rather than backward.</p>
<p>It’s much easier to choose the more positive thought without a Jr. Double cheeseburger in my belly.</p>
<p>Lesson learned.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Going RAW</title>
		<link>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/07/going-raw/</link>
		<comments>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/07/going-raw/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:02:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JJ</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/?p=761</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What started out as an experiment 3 years ago has turned into the preferred way of life.  One month before my wedding, I decided to eat gluten free to see what effect it had on my body.  In 10 days, I was down 4 pounds.  Knowing this was water weight only, I was intrigued by [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>What started out as an experiment 3 years ago has turned into the preferred way of life.  One month before my wedding, I decided to eat gluten free to see what effect it had on my body.  In 10 days, I was down 4 pounds.  Knowing this was water weight only, I was intrigued by the thought that my body was holding onto extra water because of gluten.  I pretty much decided on the spot that I didn’t need gluten and I could live without it just fine!</p>
<p>Over the next year and a half, I proclaimed that I was NEVER (<em>ha ha</em>) giving up dairy because I loved my cheese and I was already gluten free.  That was in 2009.  In February of 2010, I decided I could give up dairy for 4 months to clean out my system and strengthen my digestive system.</p>
<p><em>Did you know that about 80% of your immunity comes from your digestive system?</em></p>
<p>Several nights a week I would experience congestion before bed so I knew it was something I was eating or drinking that was causing a problem.  After getting the results back of my Alcat test, I made a video to share all the products I picked up in order to substitute my favorite foods as an easy transition into a new diet.</p>
<p><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/sr2l1PhZLXo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>After completing a few months of dairy free living, I added it back in.  It was no shock to have the congestion come back and I realized that maybe I need to remove it from my diet period.  When it comes to gluten, I rarely have it.  Maybe once every 6 weeks-but I plan for it.  I take some enzymes and usually have it while I am on my menstrual cycle because there are days I am more bloated anyway.</p>
<p>I still consume some dairy but I have cut down dramatically. Cheese was a part of my daily diet and would appear in often 2 meals a day.  Nowadays, I probably have cheese once a week.  The substitutions I made when I eliminated it for 4 months have stuck.  I use mostly coconut creamers, almond and coconut milk and buy hemp or coconut ice cream if I want some dairy-like dessert.   The products I have been using have become my favorite products and I honestly don’t miss the cheese.</p>
<p>My friends, before the wedding, would tell you that I was a cheese-a-holic.  And I clearly was not ready in 2009 to even consider it.  But as time went on, I realized that it is ONLY food and at the end of the day, my health and body are important to me.  I found some suitable substitutes and my palate has changed.  Thank god.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/jjflizanes#p/u/1/6WCHwiBgBW0">Growing a garden </a>has been the best way to enter into a healthy marriage with my food- this reference is from the food chapter of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fit-Love-Physically-Emotionally-Spiritually/dp/0982746563/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;s=books&#038;qid=1293670000&#038;sr=8-1">Fit 2 Love: How to Get Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually Fit to Attract the Love of Your Life.</a></p>
<p>Our garden is small and we don’t currently have enough planted to produce vegetables for lunch and dinner every day.  When we do, I get very excited about finding new ways to prepare what we are harvesting.  But right now we are in mid-season.  The eggplant is growing, the tomatoes are in process and the zucchini is starting to take off but none are ready to eat.</p>
<p>A few months ago, I was interviewed on film for a documentary about Raw Food.  The chapter in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fit-Love-Physically-Emotionally-Spiritually/dp/0982746563/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;s=books&#038;qid=1293670000&#038;sr=8-1">Fit 2 Love</a> was a missing piece in the film about our relationship to what we consume and how to nurture a healthier relationship with food.</p>
<p>I consume raw products but I have always thought it was too hard and unrealistic to eat Raw 100% of the time.  But I have hit a point in my life where I love focusing on my food and I need a new goal!  Going raw for a week or two seems like the next step for me.</p>
<p>Here is the trailer for the movie, I am in frame 3:26. The Raw Natural Movie that is due out this summer!</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KuCFgZpT6BE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p><a href="http://www.therawnatural.com/">http://www.therawnatural.com/</a></p>
<p>I have one or two people who are going to be doing this experiment with me.  If you’d like to join me, we start on Saturday July 30<sup>th</sup>!</p>
<p>Mark your calendars because I will also be doing a 3 part class at the Whole Foods Redondo Beach in September to transform your relationship with food!  Based on the <a href="http://www.fit2love.info">Fit 2 Love</a> principles, get your copy today and look for the emails about registering.  The class is limited and it is FREE!</p>
<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/WFM_RDBlogo.JPG"><img src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/WFM_RDBlogo-300x234.jpg" alt="WFM_RDBlogo" title="WFM_RDBlogo" width="300" height="234" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-771" /></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Food Vs Exercise</title>
		<link>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/07/food-vs-exercise/</link>
		<comments>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/07/food-vs-exercise/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Jul 2011 02:29:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JJ</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/?p=750</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[

This past weekend we had a local church putting on a Greek Food Festival.  For those of you who do not know, I am Greek (and Italian).  I grew up in the Greek Church for 13 years and we also put on a food festival every year. So I know and love this food…..
However, it’s [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/gyro.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-751" title="Donner Kebab" src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/gyro.jpg" alt="Donner Kebab" width="196" height="196" /></a><br />
</strong></p>
<p>This past weekend we had a local church putting on a Greek Food Festival.  For those of you who do not know, I am Greek (and Italian).  I grew up in the Greek Church for 13 years and we also put on a food festival every year. So I know and love this food…..</p>
<p>However, it’s not gluten free and it’s mostly high fat, high calorie dishes.  So what did I do?</p>
<p>I planned for it!  ALL week long, I ate and exercised with the idea that I was going to be eating more than I normally do on Friday and Saturday evenings (and taking more digestive enzymes to help my body break down the gluten and dairy).  Each day I did about 45 minutes of cardio and kept my other meals small and clean.  I was super excited about enjoying my Greek food-I knew exactly where I wanted to “spend” my calories.</p>
<p>When we got there Friday night, I focused on only the foods I knew I loved.  Surprisingly, I was not very impressed with the way these foods were prepared. My mother is a great cook and I eat some of these foods every year anyway but the Greek Food Festivals of my past were legendary so you can imagine my disappointment when my taste buds were not singing after a few bits of each of my favorite dishes.</p>
<p>This was Friday night, the first day of the festival.  In my mind, I had planned to go Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The good news here is that because I was not impressed, we could skip Sunday and I would be eating WAY less than planned on Saturday.</p>
<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Loukamathes.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-752" title="Loukamathes" src="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Loukamathes-300x225.jpg" alt="Loukamathes" width="300" height="225" /></a>The one item they did very well were the Loukoumades- honey dipped fried dough balls.  Yes, I said <em>fried dough</em>.  I don’t eat many fried things but this food is part of my childhood and I remember helping the ladies put the dough into the oil when I was young and then soaking them in honey and sugar solution when they came out.  The last time I had one of these, I was in Greece in 2005.  Before that, it’s probably been at least ten years since I had one of these desserts.  Saturday morning, I made sure I got my butt on my spin bike for at least 45 minutes and I even jumped in the pool for a bit before we met our friends at the festival on Saturday to enjoy the second half of the day and early evening.</p>
<p>I want to outline a few key points about this past weekend, how I handled it and the lessons I hope to pass on to you.</p>
<ol>
<li>I love and appreciate      food. When it’s really important to me, I say yes to whatever it is and I      plan for it (digestive enzymes)</li>
<li>I don’t want to gain any      weight so I planned my meals and activity to balance out the indulgence I      was planning to have. (45 minutes of cardio everyday and super clean,      protein and veggie based meals before that with no starchy carbs)</li>
<li>Once I tasted the food I      was so excited about and didn’t love it, I stopped eating it.  It wasn’t “worth it”</li>
<li>When I found something I      could really enjoy, I ate only that and savored it.  I decided to enjoy the time with my      friends, listen to the music and make the food festival NOT about food.</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>How you can use these points to make a difference in how you celebrate or occasionally indulge with your favorite foods. <em>(think holidays)</em></strong></p>
<ol>
<li>In<a href="http://fit2love.info"> Fit 2 Love,</a> I talk      about a having a Food Love Affair.       A healthy relationship with food means you can appreciate it, enjoy      it and have power over it- not the other way around.  In most cases where someone does not      have a healthy relationship with food, my food festival weekend would have      still continued and you may have continued to eat all the food even after      realizing it was not as good as it “should” be or that you planned for.</li>
<li>Planning and thinking      ahead- it takes less than 3 minutes to look ahead for the day or week to      see where there may be outing, parties, or gaps of time where you will      need to eat.  I often here people      tell me they do not have time to think about their food but YOU DO      ANYWAY!  We all eat…. So take an      extra 3 minutes to plan it out in your head.  If you need help with this, ask!</li>
<li>“Is it worth it” is a      phrase I teach all my clients.  If      nothing else, ask yourself before you eat something that you think maybe      you “shouldn’t”, IS IT WORTH IT?  If      it’s not worth gaining weight over or not losing weight, then put it      down.  In one respect, it’s only      food.  You can replace it with      different food.  If it IS worth it      (in the case of the fried honey balls for me), then accept it and its      consequences and PLAN.  I took my      enzymes, I did my exercise.  So      there is no guilt or problem.   I      loved them and it’s OK.</li>
<li>Just because it’s there      does not mean you are hungry or that you need it.  Someone people are so hypnotized by      having food in front of them, they must think the food is yelling “EAT ME!”  Thanksgiving dinners are the prime      example of overeating JUST BECAUSE it’s there.  I use to do it too but in the last 7 or      8 years, I have had a completely different relationship with holidays      because I could hear my mind chatter and I changed it.  A habit is just a habit because you keep      doing it and haven’t changed your internal conversation. You CAN change      that internal conversation but first you have to be aware of what you are      ALREADY saying to yourself.</li>
<li>Food Vs Exercise: THEY ARE BOTH IMPORTANT!</li>
</ol>
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		<title>If you didn&#8217;t believe me the first time about the food you eat</title>
		<link>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/06/if-you-didnt-believe-me-the-first-time-about-the-food-you-eat/</link>
		<comments>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/06/if-you-didnt-believe-me-the-first-time-about-the-food-you-eat/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:41:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JJ</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[5 foods to ditch]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[gluten free]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[lack of US food regulations]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[why Europe has better food regulations than the US]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/?p=705</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Please watch this if you think the &#8220;hype&#8221; about gluten, dairy and chemical in your food is B.S.
If you eat, this is important to watch.  If you feed your kids- this is important to watch.

]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Please watch this if you think the &#8220;hype&#8221; about gluten, dairy and chemical in your food is B.S.</p>
<p>If you eat, this is important to watch.  If you feed your kids- this is important to watch.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rixyrCNVVGA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Different Kinds of Detoxing</title>
		<link>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/03/different-kinds-of-detoxing/</link>
		<comments>http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/03/different-kinds-of-detoxing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:35:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>JJ</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[5 foods to ditch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clutter clearing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[detox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easy way to lose weight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[emotional detox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[feng shui]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fit 2 Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invisible fitness]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[nutrition]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/?p=517</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Different Kinds of Detoxing
You want to lose weight safely?  You want to improve your relationships?
A detox may be necessary in four areas of your life:
1.      Your Physical Body
2.      Your Physical Environment
3.      Your Emotional Baggage
4.      Your Current Relationships
Your Physical Body
At a physical level, proper detoxification strengthens our body’s tissues and enhances the function of its systems. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com/blog/2011/03/different-kinds-of-detoxing/"><em>Click here to view the embedded video.</em></a></p>
<p>Different Kinds of Detoxing</p>
<p>You want to lose weight safely?  You want to improve your relationships?</p>
<p>A detox may be necessary in four areas of your life:</p>
<p>1.      Your Physical Body</p>
<p>2.      Your Physical Environment</p>
<p>3.      Your Emotional Baggage</p>
<p>4.      Your Current Relationships</p>
<p>Your Physical Body</p>
<p>At a physical level, proper detoxification strengthens our body’s tissues and enhances the function of its systems. This can result in fast weight loss, better sleep, improved mood and focus, as well as a decrease in appetite. Detoxification is a process of removing chemicals and toxic substances from your diet, while entering into a cleansing period by eating foods that help the body eliminate built-up toxins. Not only will you be cleansing your body, you will also have the opportunity to create a new relationship with food.</p>
<p>Hunger is of the mind, while appetite is of the body. During a detox, you have the opportunity to become aware of the difference between hunger and appetite. Keeping a journal throughout a detox can help you become mindful at a conscious and<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span>subconscious level of how, when, what, and why you eat. With mindfulness, you get to take back control over your relationship with food.</p>
<p>All cleanses are not created equal, and some are not safe. I would recommend trying a detox on your own with the guidelines  found in Fit 2 Love or contacting me at <a href="http://6weekbeachbody.com"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">6weekbeachbody.com</span></a> to find out when we host the next virtual detox group.</p>
<p>Your Physical Environment</p>
<p>When it comes to your physical environment, you should be aware of two points of view to take into consideration.  The first is the organization of your space, and the second is the energy it creates, also known as Feng Shui.</p>
<p>Having things in order, for some people, equates to feeling in control and safe. Being organized has the potential to remove underlying anxiety that may plague you from day to day.</p>
<p>Feng Shui taught me that clutter blocks energy and flow in the area of your life that correlates with the space your clutter is in your home. Clutter had never bothered me before, until I learned it could have an effect on different areas of my life, such as relationships, money, and health.</p>
<p>Clutter impacts our emotional, mental, and spiritual state. It affects not only how we feel, but also our ability to be effective. Clutter takes away our power.</p>
<p>Your Emotional Baggage</p>
<p>You may have negative thoughts and emotions that clog your mind and dampen your spirit. These are old ways of thinking and habits that you might not be fully aware of at this point in time. You may be holding onto emotions like resentment, anger, and guilt, which can stand in the way to your natural energy source: your body. Negative emotions can settle into our bodies and manifest physical symptoms. What thoughts and feelings do you have that are toxic to your health and well-being? Do you feel depressed and overwhelmed by the amount of stuff around you? Is your life filled with incompletion, both in work and relationships?</p>
<p>Your Current Relationships</p>
<p>As we grow and change, so will our relationships. Just like reviewing your financial statements each year to see how you are doing and what to adjust for the following year, cleaning house may be necessary in your relationships to allow you to grow to who you want to be.</p>
<p>Make a list of all the people in your life and note whether they are a positive or negative influence over your life. Without blaming them for how you feel, notice if they have healthy, positive attitudes and habits in their own life, and how they treat you. Are they a complainer, and do they quickly negatively judge those around them? Are they calm, peaceful, and positive? This is a hard exercise because of all the potential history you may have with each person. Sleep on this one; choosing who you surround yourself with will affect you on every level.</p>
<p>Which kind of detox do you need to do first?  What other tools might you need to make this happen?</p>
<p>Remember that getting results IS important but if you don&#8217;t clean up what&#8217;s causing the problem, you WILL remain doing this over and over and over.</p>
<p>For more information on how to do the detox, check out <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fit-Love-Physically-Emotionally-Spiritually/dp/0982746563/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1293670000&amp;sr=8-1">Fit 2 Love.</a> We also have a <a href="http://fit2love.info/workshop">2 day workshop</a> where you implement these strategies and walk out a new person with a new plan to get the real results you are looking for.</p>
<p>800 571 5722</p>
<p><a href="http://invisiblefitness.com">invisiblefitness.com</a></p>
<p><a href="http://fit2love.info">fit2love.info</a></p>
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